Is Elimination Chamber Being Heard over the Royal Rumble-WrestleMania Noise?

Pity the poor Elimination Chamber. When you are bookended by two of WWE’s biggest pay-per-views, it’s easy to get overlooked.

EC is like the little brother sitting in the back seat between his two older siblings. Both of the older kids are wrapped up in their own little worlds, listening to others tell them just how special they are.

Meanwhile, the kid in the middle is just sitting there, waiting for the opportunity to interrupt his siblings and make his presence known. At some point, he is going to yell “MOM-M-M-M!” at the top of his lungs in an attempt to get his parent’s attention.

While the world waits and wonders what will happen at this month’s WWE Royal Rumble 2013 and how those results will affect the mega-PPV WrestleMania 29 in April, little EC—February’s child—has started making its own noise.

Given all the hoopla surrounding Punk vs. Rock at Royal Rumble, that is somewhat hard to believe.

First, it has been speculated for the past six months that Rock would capture the WWE title at Royal Rumble as a precursor to a second showdown with John Cena at WrestleMania—this time for the WWE title. It is hard to believe that WWE would not allow one of its most charismatic superstars in history to capture WWE’s crown-jewel title at one of its crown-jewel events, especially when it has been hyped as heavily as this has.

Second, Punk almost has to drop the belt at Royal Rumble in an effort to put the focus on his upcoming (but as-yet unannounced) WrestleMania match with the Undertaker. WWE has taken great steps to ensure that the “Best in the World” is ready to roll into April with a chance at ending Undertaker’s 20-0 WrestleMania winning streak.

They do not want anything to serve as a distraction in the run-up to that match, and defending the WWE title beyond Royal Rumble definitely is a distraction.

All the talk about Rock taking the belt at EC is just that—talk. It may wind up as one of the many tools in the hype toolbox to make sure the paying public does not forget that there is, in fact, a David wedged between two Goliaths.

That should not be seen as an indictment of Elimination Chamber.

EC is one of the more interesting events on WWE’s PPV calendar. It definitely is at the head of WWE’s second-tier pay-per-view roster.

It is one of the most original pay-per-views ever in terms of concept.

Six men start the match in a cage with four pods. Four men are placed in a pod and wait their turn to come out and join the action.

As a man is pinned or forced to submit, he must leave the chamber. The last man standing is the winner.

WWE has added stipulations to the two chamber matches. Winners get either the WWE or the World Heavyweight championships, depending upon which belt is up for grabs in each match.

EC truly is an entertaining PPV and has enough merit to stand on its own two feet. It just happens to be stuck between Royal Rumble and WrestleMania.

You cannot fault efforts for trying to drum up support for the little brother by teasing the possibility that Rock will win the gold at EC in New Orleans.

After all, teasing is something that always will be associated with little brothers.